Biggest surprises this year with USC Football

[BigBalls]

1) OL – who is responsible for the surprisingly great performance of the OL? Hanson has to get the flowers but did the hiring of Adrian Klemm help? I really thought this unit would be a weak point. But instead it was a strength.
2) DJ Harvey the DB transfer from SJ State. Really thought he would make an impact but he hardly played

3) DLine I really thought they would stop the run and get to the QB. Nope.

4) King Miller- Incredible revelation. We don’t see many players get overlooked by r3cruiting sites but they all missed on him.

5) Maiava,  I don’t know how he managed to take the cement out of his shoes. Top QB in the conference. Made a great leap and is looking at a weak NFL QB draft. He might go. Sanchez went after starting 12 games and did fine .

 

[Java]

I don’t remember when Klemm joined or what role. Advisor? I feel like the OL was not as great as people think. The USC OL is not at the level of Georgia Ohio state or bama. I think it was surprising. Meaning I think it was supposed to be average or bad with the injuries. Pregnant man leaving and having to play so many young guys. So in light of that? They were surprising because they were an over average to good. They were not elite. Iowas was better. However they were serviceable. Good and surprising. And young. And really bought usc a year of development

[Butkus51]

Bruddah Ballss, No, the R services did not miss on King Miller.  I’ve explain KM situation 2 times here.  3rd time, King Miller was a high 3* to 4* recruit, USC and other schools were recruiting him.  But King got a serious, season ending injury, 1st pre-season game (bad luck).  USC and others kinda stopped recruiting him, but King kept in touch with C.LR.  USC was his dream school, always wanted to be a Trojan RB.

As he got healthy, C.LR offered him & twin brother, Kaylon (OL) a preferred WO plan.  King and his brother took the offers.  What luck for C.LR and the team.  Our 2 top RB’s got hurt and King Miller did a fantastic job as a replacement.  Heck, King Miller plays like a Jr or Sr player.  Glad, King Miller stayed in touch with C.LR… Cheers

PS.  And, his brother Kaylon has done well at OL and played a lot dis season.  Heck, Kaylon could play DL, he did both positions and Calabasas HS and was All League as an OL and DL.  The Miller brothers are very good athletes.

• This reply was modified 23 hours, 46 minutes ago by Butkus51.
• This reply was modified 23 hours, 39 minutes ago by Butkus51.

[PasadenaTrojan]

Good intel. Got it. But that was BBs post but have to admit I was wondering his background too

[Butkus51]

My bad Bruddah Pasadena, I knew it was Ballss OP, for some reason I typed your name in my reply.  Weird sheet.  Sorry about dat slip up…  Cheers

[PasadenaTrojan]

Um. Arnt Moore and Mendoza in the conference?

[Fraud]

Biggest Not Surprised:

– that we missed the playoffs again.

– that Gentry sucks.

[Butkus51]

C. Adrian Klemm was hired by C.LR as a D analyst, but I’m sure he has assisted C. Hanson with OL.  Dat’s his expertise.  The OL has been a sweet surprise dis year.  Hats off to C. Hanson for a job well done.

[PasadenaTrojan]

Great topic.

My biggest.

1) Gentry forgetting how to play against the run
2) Lane having a quiet year and Lemom
Blowing up as a B. Award finalist.
3) how ackward of a runner JM is. Wow. He runs like a Brit at Hyde Park. Iykyk. A regional species of landlocked storks.
4) DL not being dominant.
5) DC Lynn being so vanilla on D
6) LBer play was awful and got worse
7) DB play being very mediocre
8) I think last years team was better. Fortunately for us the competition (less ND) got worse more then we did

• This reply was modified 22 hours, 13 minutes ago by PasadenaTrojan.

[Java]

Have you not been paying attention?  Most of these have been issues for awhile/.

 

1) Gentry has always been a run liability.  Remember the Kenyans and all that?  Gentry was Kenyan Exhibit A

2) Lane did not have a good year.  Lemon did  Lane regressed.

3) JM was horribly awkward in 2024 and I posted how gangly and unathletic he was.  And how disappointed I was that a QB willing to basically couldn’t.  Then we come to 2025 and the guy ran.  I mean like he was FAR better and more athletic than 2024.  He wasn’t Caleb but he was workable.

4) Yep

5) I think he evolves defensively in games like Norm Chow used to on O.  Plays a lot of base to start.

6) They play 2 LB, it’s not a LB focused D.  I don’t think they were awful.  But the talking heads on youTube thought so so carry on.

7) CB’s were young, Ramsey was very good near the ball and Fitzgerald made first team all Big 10.  I think there’s so much you can do when the QB is not under pressure.

8) I don’t agree.  Think last year’s team loses to NEB, Michigan at home, Iowa.  This year’s team beats Michigan on the road, Minnesota, Maryland, and whoever else USC lost to.  Rutgers?

 

 

 

[PasadenaTrojan]

Gentry seemed to be betting against us. Wish I was kidding.

A few more surprises for me.

9. JM is actually pretty accurate. He played well

this year. I don’t think he makes an NFL roster but i do think he was a B for us. Him blowing up the DL and causing a fumble was the play of the year.
Hes a great leader and a great teammate. Poly raised. Poly strong. 🫡

 

10. CLR isnt a great play design guy or play call guy. He’s average at best. Not sure what plus strengths CLR has? He doesn’t screw coeds is good.  I think!

11. King Miller was obv surprise of the year. Without question.

12. Safety play was good. CB play was not. Best position groups in order.

safeties B+ (one was all B10. Other one is prob better. Bullock impressed me more than either a few years ago. Talanoa Too.

DL B/B- (consistently not able to get to QB with 4 dudes. Better on pass rush then rush defense)
CBs – C (not a lot of breakups or INTs. Lots of penalties and yards)
LB F (two guy set was interesting choice)

 

• This reply was modified 18 hours, 48 minutes ago by PasadenaTrojan.

[Java]

Pretty rough on Gentry.  Coaches all love the guy

 

JM-I assume USC wants him back.  How far do they regress if Husan takes over?

 

CLR is one of the great play callers in CFB history.  Dude absolutely knows what he’s doing.  gets smarter and cuter than he needs to but if you think he’s average I don’t know what game you are watching.  He truly is fantastic and recognizes and exploits weaknesses.

11 King yes

12 CB-s for much even majority of the year were reshirt frosh.  That’s just not a great recipe.  And it’s the residual IMO of the poor recruiting classes in 2020, 2021 and the desire to portal in 2022.  Even 2023 USC was still not doing pay for play and the recruiting lagged.  So 2024 recruits?  Wereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee reshirt frosh

 

 

 

[Author]

Posts